Canada School Shooting Leaves 9 Dead in B.C.

Canadian authorities have identified an 18-year-old as the suspect in a mass shooting that took place in a remote community in British Columbia, leaving nine people dead and several others injured.

Police said the suspect first allegedly killed her 39-year-old mother and 11-year-old stepbrother at their home in Tumbler Ridge, a small town located about 700 miles north of Vancouver.

According to officials, the suspect then went to Tumbler Ridge Secondary School and opened fire.

Casualties and Police Response

Deputy Commissioner Dwayne McDonald of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) in British Columbia said five people were killed at the school. The victims included three 12-year-old girls, one 12-year-old boy, one 13-year-old boy, and a 39-year-old female teacher.

Police initially reported six deaths at the school but later clarified that a critically injured woman, who had been airlifted to hospital, was mistakenly included in the earlier count.

Officers arrived at the school within minutes of the shooting and reportedly came under fire while approaching the building. When police entered the premises, they found the suspect dead from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Authorities recovered a long gun and a modified handgun from the scene.

Background and Investigation

Police identified the suspect as Jesse Van Rootselaar. Officials stated that the suspect had been known to authorities in the past due to mental health-related concerns, including incidents involving self-harm.

McDonald said officers had visited the residence on several occasions over recent years. On at least one visit, firearms were seized.

The motive for the attack remains under investigation. Authorities have not provided further details at this stage.

Community Impact

Tumbler Ridge is a remote community with around 2,400 residents. The secondary school has approximately 160 students from Grades 7 to 12.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney described the incident as an act of extreme violence and said that students and teachers “bore witness to unheard-of cruelty.” He added that several victims remain hospitalised and are receiving treatment.

Police have urged the public to avoid speculation while the investigation continues.